Lilac

I am looking for lilac limbs that are about 10" long and at least 2" in max diameter.

Most often, this size comes from the base of an old shoot, and it is probably irregular - maybe thicker because of curving reaction wood, injury, etc. The last few good pieces I've used have been old stubs that were part rotted but mostly solid. If you have an old bush that has been trimmed, you may be able to just snap off a dead, partially decayed stub that is this thick at the bottom. This is fine - I am cutting and will deal w issues.

Why so picky? The old, big pieces are often lightly decayed (ie, spalt if lucky) and have purple streaks. Looks cool. The smaller pieces don't have much of anything going on.

Happy to pay or trade as desired.

What ya making Bri? Should I assume you are stabilizing the stock. I rarely have seen spalt in lilac. As for purple streaks, that is very common in any of the purple flowering Syringa vulgaris forms. The white variety usually has a less likelihood of the purple streaks.

For S. vulvaris, those sizes are also common. Getting the 4, 5 and 6" diameter stuff is rare. It often has rot after getting to the 3" diameter. I have several pieces here and there. The dry ones usually burst open on one side, check pith deep and open right up.
 
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Yeah, tricky stuff, but perfect for Easter. I've never seen a 6" diameter piece - biggest I've had is maybe 2".
 
Yeah, tricky stuff, but perfect for Easter. I've never seen a 6" diameter piece - biggest I've had is maybe 2".

The white cultivar typically grows bigger than the purple ones, but lacks those color streaks you like. Second thing, the white ones often have straighter grain. The purple can often have spiral grain. I've got 2" stuff in the basement, think I might still have some 4" stuff in the wood shed. Have not made it there in a while due to snow depths.
 
He cut me a truck load of twist free staves yesterday from one very old bush on an abandoned homestead in Pennsylvania. I told him to cut the stumps and seal them for wood turning. The big one is the largest I or he had ever seen. 6". Look at the heart wood. Tree obviously needed a good trim.



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@Byron Barker How do you plan to get all those to Taiwan?
I always take a load back with me in a snowboard bag onto the plane. Much cheaper than shipping. Fit as many as I can each trip. In the meantime, they just season nicely in my brothers basement. No rush. Got a lot of good stuff I want to try out waiting for COVID to back off a little.
 
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Got the lilac, and it's beautiful - thanks. Let me know what you want back. I am headed out to the post office tomorrow and can send right away if you get this tonight.
 
About to head home. How many pc you want me to pick out? 1, 2, ? How bout start with the red palm and if that's not enough you finish the package. She saw that palm and was really taken with it. If that works for you it will work for me. I ain't gonna get rich playing with this. It is more of a pastime for me. I am a lead carpenter so I just need something to fill my sawdust quota...
 
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Sounds good. How about I throw in the African blackwood spindle as well?

PM me your address and I will ship tomorrow.
 
That would be great. By the way, there is 0 more lilac. The entire bush died. They had another one but a beaver of all things decided their lilac tree was perfect to dam up the drainage ditch along the road. Thus ruining their yard several different ways at once. Local gossip is the beaver is still at large but I dont believe gossip much.
 
I always take a load back with me in a snowboard bag onto the plane. Much cheaper than shipping. Fit as many as I can each trip. In the meantime, they just season nicely in my brothers basement. No rush. Got a lot of good stuff I want to try out waiting for COVID to back off a little.

Nice. I didn't know you had a brother here or that you travel here regularly. That sounds like a nice way to do things.
 
Got a wood hoarders delight today. Thank you. Let me know if you are after weird bush/ornamental stuff. I have a job in a retirement community area. Lots of landscaping gets removed when an addition goes on or a deck gets reworked. I grubbed out a couple holly rootballs last fall but they were snatched up by a local turner. I am fascinated by crap that isnt "normal". I think I owe ya, man.

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